Find out how popular the last name Bourke is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Bourke.

Bourke, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Bourke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bourke in America

Bourke is the 12370th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bourke surname appeared 2,514 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Bourke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bourke to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Bourke

The surname Bourke originates from Ireland and dates back to the 12th century when the Anglo-Norman de Burghs arrived in the country. The name is derived from the Old French word "burgh," meaning a small fortified village or town. The Bourkes were one of the first Norman families to settle in Ireland, establishing themselves in the counties of Limerick, Tipperary, and Mayo.

The earliest recorded reference to the Bourke name is found in the Annals of Innisfallen, a medieval Irish chronicle, where it is mentioned as early as 1194. The name appears in various spellings, such as de Burgo, Burgh, and Bourke, reflecting the evolution of language and regional variations.

One of the most notable historical figures bearing the Bourke surname is Sir John Bourke, born around 1420 in County Mayo. He was a prominent military commander and played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses. Another famous Bourke was Sir Richard Bourke, born in 1777, who served as the Governor of New South Wales, Australia, from 1831 to 1837.

The Bourke name is also associated with place names, such as Bourke County in New South Wales, Australia, named after Sir Richard Bourke, and the town of Bourke in the same county. Additionally, the Bourke River and the Bourke Range in Queensland, Australia, were named after Sir Richard Bourke.

Other notable individuals with the Bourke surname include Edmund Bourke, an Irish Catholic philosopher and theologian born in 1753, and Robert Bourke, born in 1844, who was an Australian politician and served as the Premier of Victoria from 1893 to 1894.

The Bourke name has a rich history in Ireland, with many prominent families and individuals contributing to various aspects of society, including military, politics, and academia. While the surname has spread worldwide, its roots can be traced back to the Anglo-Norman settlers who played a significant role in shaping the history of Ireland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bourke

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Bourke.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Bourke was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Bourke has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Bourke was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bourke, please contact us.

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